Man hides more than $1 million in treasure

Thursday

Mar 28, 2013 at 5:20 PM

After a man hid more than $1 million in treasure, people from across the country dropped everything to search for it. Instead, what they discovered was even better than gold: They found precious time with their families.

Deseret News

Ever found something special while hiking through the woods with your family? What about more than $1 million in gold and treasure?If you're hiking in Santa Fe, NM., you could discover just that. Multimillionaire Forrest Fenn hid $1 million in a treasure chest to encourage others to get out with their families to find a sense of adventure, and maybe some treasure along the way.After receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis almost three years ago, Fenn decided to give some of his fortune to one lucky treasure hunter. Fenn, a modern-day Indiana Jones, spent his life collecting antiques and artifacts. He wanted to pass on this sense of adventure to others after he was gone. So he hid a treasure chest filled with jewelry, gold, and nuggets. At the end of his memoir, "The Thrill of the Chase," he gives a poem with 9 clues to help others find the hidden treasure.Today, Fenn is fully recovered from cancer. However, he left his treasure chest in the woods because he is enjoying watching others chase down the gold. While no one has found the chest yet, many have written him about discovering something even better along the way."The real treasure might just be bringing family together," said one son planning a trip to look for the gold with his dad. Even though, these treasure hunters didn't strike gold, the time spent outdoors with their family was priceless.With summer finally on the way, opportunities for fun in the sun are blooming. If the winter blues have you locked up on the couch, here's some motivation to get you moving. According to recent statistics from the U.K. brand Savlon and the campaign group Play England, only 40% of today's kids would rather play outside than watch TV while 72% of parents would rather be outside. Here are some more frightening statistics from the same study: One-third of children have no idea how to play hopscotch. One-quarter of children have never rolled down a hill. One in seven parents admit they don't feel fit enough to play outside with their kids. In the 1970s, 90% of children walked to elementary school; Today, only 10% walk. Building a fort and playing tag on the playground teach fundamental skills like problem-solving and teamwork. If your kids are missing out on these opportunities because of video games and television, you can help them by prioritizing outdoor activities as a family.Build a fort. Play tennis. Go on a walk. Have a water fight. Build sand castles. Go find Forrest Fenn's treasure! Whatever you decide to do, just get outside and do it.Although you might not find a million dollars on your outdoor adventures, you could find something even more valuable: Precious memories and bonding experiences with your spouse and children. That's worth more than all the treasure in the world.%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A//beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif%3Fcid%3D65900%26pid%3D46%22%20/%3E

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